Essence Adds Creative Agency Veteran to Its NBCUniversal Account Team

Josh Mandel has held leadership roles at R/GA and 72andSunny

Essence, a global data- and measurement-driven media agency that’s part of WPP’s GroupM, found a leader for its NBCUniversal account team with an extensive background at creative agencies.

Josh Mandel is joining Essence as senior vice president, client solutions and will help manage the agency’s relationship with E! out of its Los Angeles office. He will report to agency president Pam Sullivan, who oversees both the Los Angeles office and Essence’s relationship with NBCUniversal.

“E! and NBCUniversal both play such an important role in defining what matters to people today, from culture to news and entertainment,” Sullivan said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to add Josh’s experience and love for culture to the team and the enormous opportunity we have to create advertising that sets new standards in relevance and value for our clients and for consumers.”

Mandel joins Essence from Optimistic Industry, the brand consultancy he founded in 2017 and for which he served as CEO. His previous experience includes roles as managing director for R/GA and 72andSunny’s Los Angeles offices, as well as strategy and planning leadership positions at Wieden + Kennedy and 180 Amsterdam. He also spent around three years as global brand manager and marketing director for Nike.

“Essence’s ability to bring digital and analog media together and measure performance across those worlds is truly exceptional,” Mandel said in a statement. “Being able to finally create a clear picture of what’s going on makes me excited about the confidence we can create for our clients and about where Essence is leading the industry.”